Regardless of who is president in Iran, Human rights abuses and executions will continue

On Saturday, May 20, Hassan Rouhani was declared the winner of presidential elections in Iran for a second term. The elections in Iran are neither fair nor free as all candidates are hand-picked by the unelected Guardian Council based on their commitment to defend the ruling theocracy and allegiance to the Supreme Leader.

Women, real opposition figures and member of Iran’s religious and ethnic minorities are systematically disqualified from standing in the elections since the theocratic regime usurped power in 1979.

Even if he was willing the winner of such carefully choreographed elections has only limited power to influence the policies of the ruling theocracy, indeed the Supreme Leader in Iran has the final say on all social, economic and political issues.

Rouhani should be judged by his actions and not words. During his previous four-year term over 3000 people were executed and the human rights situation got worse in many areas according to repeated reports by NGOs and the UN Special Rapporteur for Iran. His record proves that anyone expecting real reforms or moderation in Iran will be disappointed.

“Human rights abuses and executions will continue regardless of who is president in Iran. The Iranian people understand that is why they support democratic platform presented by the NCRI president-elect, Maryam Rajavi despite threats by the regime”, Lord Clarke of Hampstead CBE said on reports of Rouhani securing a 2nd term.

The massacre of tens of thousands of political prisoners in Iran in 1988 fast emerged as a main question during the election campaign because one of the main perpetrators, Raisi, run as a candidate.

“The people of Iran demand that those responsible for the 1988 massacre are held to account. It is time the international community supported calls for an inquiry into this atrocity and ensured that the perpetrators are apprehended and forced to face justice in a proper court of law”, Steve McCabe, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Birmingham, Selly Oak, said.

Professor the Lord Alton of Liverpool, Independent Crossbench Member of the House of Lords added, “For Iran to be accepted by the international community, it must halt its support for terrorism in the region and stop public executions, free political prisoners, respect human rights, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly for all its citizens. Rouhani has shown in the past that he is neither willing nor can bring about these necessary changes for Iran.”

“Rouhani has been supportive of the terrorist activities of the Revolutionary Guards, applauding their malign intervention in Syria, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East. The Revolutionary Guards should now be proscribed internationally as a terrorist organisation, in order to curb Iran’s malign influence in the region. Rouhani took pride for increasing IRGC’s budget 150% during his first term. The source of such a lifeline to these oppressive forces must be severely penalised”, Lord Maginnis said.

“Selection, not democracy is a closer definition to what happened in Iran on 19th May. Rouhani does not represent the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people. The international community should support the Iranian people’s struggle for real freedom and democracy in Iran. It should isolate the regime in Tehran by imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses and those who support terrorism”, Sir David Amess, Co-Chairman of the British Committee for Iran and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Southend West said.